The Great Void.
The golden Divine Dao of incense offerings stretched on without end, emerging from the southern heavens like a golden net that all but enveloped the eastern Li Kingdom. Even Purple Mansion cultivators dared not act recklessly here, and could only travel along the few prescribed routes.
Brilliant Golden Thunder flickered around a black seal as towering as a mountain. Four characters upon it read [Dipper Pivot Supreme Punishment]. Human figures formed from various kinds of lightning sat cross-legged beneath it, each in their assigned place.
A young man in silver-white precious armor traveled along the Divine Dao of incense offerings. Divine beings and mighty guardians knelt on either side. Beneath the seal, a figure formed of lightning suddenly brightened, and a deep voice rang through the Great Void.
"Shiqing, how are things in Red Cloud?"
"He has been invested as one of the Five-Thunder Emissaries. We avoided the word 'altar' and replaced it with 'heaven.' Now we only lack someone for the Spirit Thunder path. Finding someone with no ties to dragonkind and a clean background has proved difficult."
Song Shiming offered a slight bow. Before him stood the Purple Mansion cultivators of Great Li's Thunder Department, who were transitioning to the Divine Dao and attaining golden bodies. The one before him was also his elder.
"There is no need to worry about that. Preparations were made in the Grotto-Heaven long ago. The candidate will emerge before the punishment begins."
"Wanjin certainly surprised me. He came to the Thunder Department under the banner of his Immortal Sect specifically to recommend this man. Given his usual wastrel ways, it really was unexpected."
The figure formed of Golden Thunder swayed slightly, drawing on the ceaseless surge of incense faith behind him. It flowed into this place from the mortal